Aggregation of data from external data sources within an implantable medical device

ABSTRACT

An implantable device is described that collects and aggregates data from non-implanted medical devices external from a body of a patient. The device may also collect and aggregate data from medical devices implanted within the body. The implantable device includes a wireless transceiver to acquire physiological data from the external medical devices, and a storage medium to store the physiological data. A processor retrieves the physiological data and communicates the physiological data to a remote patient management system. The device may collect the physiologic data from the various external data sources, possibly over an extended period of time, and stores the data for subsequent upload to a common patient management system. In addition, the implantable device may collect physiological data from other medical devices implanted within the patient. In this manner, the device provides a central point for collection and aggregation of physiological data relating to the patient.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to medical devices and, moreparticularly, to collection of physiological data generated by themedical devices.

BACKGROUND

It is common to provide therapy and monitor a patient using a variety ofmedical devices. Moreover, these medical devices may be used atdifferent times, and in a variety of locations. One or more medicaldevices may, for example, be used to provide medical treatment ormonitor physiological conditions while the patient resides within his orher home or office. At other times, the patient may visit clinics orhospitals where different medical devices may be used. These disparatemedical devices generate a wealth of physiological data relating to thesymptoms and condition of the patient.

SUMMARY

In general, the invention is directed to an implantable data aggregationdevice that collects and aggregates physiological data for a patientfrom a variety of data sources. For example, the device collectsphysiological data from non-implanted medical devices external from abody of the patient. The device collects the physiological data from thevarious external data sources, possibly over an extended period of time,and stores the data for subsequent upload to a central patientmanagement system. In addition, the implantable device may collectphysiological data from other medical devices implanted within thepatient. In this manner, the device provides a central point forcollection and aggregation of physiological data relating to thepatient.

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a method comprisingacquiring physiological data from a plurality of medical devicesexternal to a body of a patient, and aggregating the physiological datawithin a device implanted within the body of the patient. The methodfurther comprises communicating the aggregated physiological data fromthe implanted device to a remote system.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method comprisingreceiving physiological data from a medical device external to a body ofa patient, and storing the physiological data within a device implantedwithin the body of the patient.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to an implantabledevice comprising a wireless transceiver to acquire physiological datafrom a medical device external to a body of a patient, and a storagemedium to store the physiological data.

The techniques may offer one or more advances in the art. An implantabledata aggregation device (IDAD), in accordance with the invention, mayallow physiological data to be continuously collected and aggregatedover extended periods of time, regardless of the location of thepatient. For example, the IDAD may collect physiological data from othermedical devices while the patient is located within his or her home, athis or her office, or undergoing tests at a clinic or hospital.Regardless, the IDAD collects information from the other medical devicesto generate a comprehensive physiological profile for the patient.

The IDAD may communicate the aggregated physiological data to a centralpatient management system for access by a clinician. Consequently, theclinician need not access a number of disparate systems to viewphysiological data relating to the patient. Instead, the clinician mayaccess the patient management system to view physiological datacollected from numerous medical devices, which may be external medicaldevices, additional implanted medical devices, or combinations thereof.Thus, the techniques described herein may provide a more efficientmechanism for collection of extensive physiological data for thepatient, and presentation of that data to a clinician by a commonsystem. This may allow clinicians to more fully appreciate the currenthealth of the patient, and more easily render accurate diagnosis andtreatment of the patient via a single remote patient management system.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features, objects, andadvantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and fromthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system in which an implantable dataaggregation device within a patient provides centralized collection andaggregation of physiological data from external and internal datasources.

FIG. 2 illustrates the implantable data aggregation device incommunication with a remote patient management system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of theimplanted data aggregation device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example software architecturefor controlling operation of the implantable data aggregation device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating example operation of the implantabledata aggregation device when collecting and aggregating thephysiological data for the patient.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart further illustrating the operation of theimplantable data aggregation device when transmitting the aggregatedphysiological data to the remote patient management system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 2 in which an implantable dataaggregation device (IDAD) 4 within a patient 5 provides centralizedcollection and aggregation of physiological data from external andinternal data sources. More specifically, IDAD 4 receives physiologicaldata from external medical devices (EMDs) 6A–6N, implantable medicaldevices (IMDs) 8A–8M, or combinations thereof.

IDAD 4 may be an implantable device dedicated to the collection andaggregation of physiological data for patient 5. Alternatively, IDAD 4may be an implantable medical device adapted for collection and storageof physiological data. Accordingly, IDAD 4 and IMDs 8 may take the formof a variety of implantable medical devices. One example of animplantable medical device is a pacemaker. Such a device typicallyincludes at least one pacing and sensing lead for delivery of pacingpulses to a heart of patient 5. Another example of an implantablemedical device is a pacemaker-cardioverter-defibrillator (“PCD”). Otherexamples include an implantable brain stimulator, an implantable gastricsystem stimulator, an implantable nerve stimulator or muscle stimulator,an implantable lower colon stimulator (e.g., in graciloplastyapplications), an implantable drug or beneficial agent dispenser orpump, an implantable cardiac signal loop or other type of recorder ormonitor, an implantable gene therapy delivery device, an implantableincontinence prevention or monitoring device, an implantable insulinpump or monitoring device, and so on. Thus, IDAD 4 may find wideapplication in conjunction with almost any appropriately adaptedimplantable medical device. IDAD 4 and/or IMDs 8 may continuouslycollect physiologic information about patient 5 including heart rate,heart rate variability, blood glucose levels, oxygen saturation, partialpressure of oxygen in the blood, blood pressure, baro-reflex measures,electrogram morphologies, lung wetness, and the like.

Similarly, EMDs 6 may be any of a variety of external medical devicesthat generate physiological data for patient 5. For example, EMDs 6 mayinclude a variety of patient monitoring devices such as an externalblood pressure monitor, an external heart rate monitor that measureheart rate and heart rate variability, a external blood glucose monitor,a scale that measures the weight of patient 5, an electronicquestionnaire regarding patient symptoms or health status, a Holtermonitor, an external EKG or ECG monitor, an external cardiac signal looprecorder, a temporary cardiac pacing system having an external pulsegenerator, and the like. Another example is a continuous positive airwaypressure (CPAP) device or an oxygen delivery system that is often usedwith patients suffering from sleep apnea, pulmonary edema, or otherdisorders. Such as device may provide a CPAP therapy or respiratorystatus to IDAD 4 for aggregation with other physiological data forpatient 5. In addition, EMDs 6 may include external drug deliverysystems that may provide physiological data in the form of recent dosagelevels, dosing history, and the like. Another example is an externaldevice for testing the blood to provide a variety of information, suchas prothrombin time, which may assist in titrating anti-coagulationmedication or the current levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP),which may aid the diagnosis and management of congestive heart failure(CHF). Additionally, EMDs 6 may include physiologic variables such asrespiration rate, respiratory gases, blood pressure, heart rate, ECG andthe like collected by an exercise machine (e.g. a treadmill, stairstepper, stationary bike, etc.) during exercise at home, in a clinicianoffice, or in a gym. Similarly, data about a particular workout could becollected, including exercise times, workout level, calories burned,distances or speeds.

Consequently, EMDs 6 and IMDs 8 may provide a wealth of informationrelated to the status and treatment of patient 5. In the event IDAD 4 isalso a medical device, it may supplement the collected physiologicaldata with physiological data measured directly by IDAD 4. In thismanner, IDAD 4 provides a central point for collecting and aggregatingphysiological data relating to patient 5.

IDAD 4 communicates with EMDs 6 via signals 7 in accordance with one ormore wireless communication techniques, such as conventional RFtelemetry protocols used to communicate within implanted medicaldevices.

IDAD 4 may also communicate with EMDs 6 via other wireless communicationprotocols. One example protocol, commonly referred to as Bluetooth, usesshort-range 2.4 GHz radio technology employed to transport data betweendevices. Other possible protocols include IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, and802.11g, which are designed for wireless networking. Yet anotherpossible protocol is HomeRF, which was initially designed for wirelesscommunications between devices and appliances within a home.

The use of IDAD 4 allows physiological data to be continuously collectedand aggregated over extended periods of time, regardless of the locationof patient 5. For example, IDAD 4 may collect physiological data fromEMDs 6 while patient 5 is located within his or her home. IDAD 4 maycollect physiological data, for example, while patient 5 is asleep.Similarly, IDAD 4 may collect data while patient 5 visits differentclinics, possibly to see different clinicians for different medicalpurposes. IDAD 4 may, for example, collect physiological data whilepatient 5 is undergoing a treadmill test at one clinic, and then laterwhile the patient is connected to a dialysis machine at a second clinic.Regardless, IDAD 4 collects information provided by the external datasources, e.g., EMDs 8 to aggregate comprehensive physiological data forpatient 5.

IDAD 4 communicates the aggregated physiological data to a remote systemor database, e.g., central patient management system 12, for accessesvia a clinician 10. Consequently, clinician 10 need not access a numberof disparate systems to view physiological data relating to patient 5.In other words, clinician 10 may access patient management system 12 toview physiological data collected from numerous medical devices, whichmay be external medical devices 6, additional implanted devices 8, orcombinations thereof. Thus, the techniques described herein may providea more efficient mechanism for collection of extensive physiologicaldata for patient 5 from a variety of data sources, and presentation ofthat data to clinician by a common system. This may allow clinicians tomore fully appreciate the current health of patient 5, and more easilyrender accurate diagnosis and treatment of the patient via the remotepatient management system 12. Accordingly, the invention may promotephysician efficiency and reduce patient care cost.

IDAD 4 may use a variety of criteria to determine when to initiate thetransfer of the physiological data to patient management system. IDAD 4may, for example, communicate the collected physiological dataperiodically, e.g., every twenty-four hours. Alternatively, IDAD 4 mayinitiate a data transfer when a threshold amount of data has beencollected, based on the criticality of the data, based on the period oftime elapsed since the data was acquired, or other suitable algorithms.

Upon viewing the aggregated data via patient management system 12,remote clinician 10 may issue IDAD 4 one or more commands. Specifically,by way of similar communications to those described above, IDAD 4 maytransmit control signals to EMDs 6 and IMDs 8 in response tocommunications received from remote patient management system 12. Inthis manner, IDAD 4 may not only provide a central point of collectionand aggregation of physiological data, but may provide a central pointof control over external devices 6. An example might be the automaticadjustment of CPAP pressures to titrate sleep apnea treatment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system 18 in which implantable data aggregationdevice (IDAD) 4 communicates with remote patient management system 12.IDAD 4 communicates with patient management system 12 via one or morecommunication channels. More specifically, IDAD 4 detects availablechannels for communicating with patient management system 12, andestablishes communication sessions using one or more of the detectedchannels. IDAD 4 may select one or more of the detected communicationchannels based on a variety of criteria including the nature of thephysiological data to be uploaded, the reliability of each detectedchannel, the speed of each detected channel, the cost for using eachdetected channel, and the like.

As one example, IDAD 4 may sense the availability of local monitor 36,which is typically located near patient 5 for providing access topatient management system 12. Local monitor 36 may be located, forexample, within a home or office of patient 5, and may provide one ormore wired communication channels for communicating with patientmanagement system 12 via network 38. Local monitor 36 may upload thephysiological data to patient management system 12, or may buffer thedata for subsequent upload determined by a variety of factors, such aselapsed time since a previous upload, a current time of day, a manualtrigger from patient 5, the amount of data received, a level ofcriticality of the data, and the like.

IDAD 4 attempts to establish a communication session 25 with localmonitor 36 using a short-range wireless communication protocol. IDAD 4may communicate with local monitor 36 in accordance with one or morewireless communication techniques, such as the RF telemetry protocolsdescribed above. For example, IDAD 4 and local monitor 36 may utilizeconventional RF telemetry communication protocols, Bluetooth, IEEE802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g, HomeRF, or other wireless communications.

Upon establishing a communication session with IDAD 4, local monitor 36provides access to patient management system 12 via one or morechannels. Local monitor 36 may, for example, provide a wired telephonicconnection 37 to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 20 forrouting the communication to patient management system 12 via network38. Connection 37 may, for example, comprises a modem for maintaining adial-up connection using an analog phone line, and may providerelatively low-cost, low-speed access to network 38. Alternatively, orin addition, connection 37 may comprise a higher-speed communicationchannel to PSTN 20, such as an integrated services digital network(ISDN), a direct subscriber line (DSL), or the like.

In addition, local monitor 36 may provide a high-speed connection 21directly to network 38. For example, local monitor 36 may make use ofcable, optical, or other high-speed access medium for directly couplingIDAD 4 to network 38. Accordingly, local monitor 36 may include anEthernet interface for receiving an Ethernet cable, a coaxial connectorfor receiving a cable line, and the like. Local monitor 36 may includerouting functionality to support multiple patients 5, and may includefirewall and other security applications to prevent unauthorized accessof IDAD 4.

In addition, local monitor 36 may sense the availability of mobiletelephone 30 via link 35, and whether cellular communications 23 may beestablished between mobile telephone 30 and base station 39.Alternatively, or in addition, IDAD 4 may have cellular functionalityintegrated within for establishing direct cellular communications 29with base station 39. Cellular communications 23, 29 may take the formof any one of a number of conventional wireless communicationtechniques. One common technique is code division multiple access (CDMA)in which multiple communications are simultaneously conducted over aradio-frequency (RF) spectrum. Other examples include Global System forMobile Communications (GSM), which uses narrowband time-divisionmultiple access for communicating data, and General Packet Radio Service(GPRS). Base station controller (BSC) 22 provides an interface betweenbase station 22 and the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 20 forrouting the physiological data to patient management system 12 vianetwork 38.

Furthermore, IDAD 4 may sense the availability of a wireless accesspoint (AP) 24 for accessing a local network 26, such as a local areanetwork at the home or office of patient 5. In particular, IDAD 4 mayattempt to establish a communication session 21 with AP 24 locatedrelatively near patient 5 using a wireless networking protocol. Forexample, IDAD 4 may attempt to establish communication session 21 usingthe IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g protocols, and the like, which areindustry standard protocols for wireless LAN (WLAN) technology. In an802.11b network, for example, two or more wireless nodes or stationsestablish communications in the 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) frequency band. Many802.11b networks contain at least one access point 24 that interfaceswireless and wired LANs. Example access points that are becomingprevalent are 3Com AirConnect 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Access Point, LucentORiNOCO AP-1000 11 Mbps Wireless Access Point, Cisco Aironet 4800 AccessPoint, and the Linksys Instant Wireless Network Access Point.

Local network 26 may be directly coupled to network 38 via a high-speedlink 27, such as a T1 or a T3 data link. In this manner, IDAD 4 mayestablish communications with access point 24 to form a high-speedcommunication session with patient management system 12 via localnetwork 26 and network 38.

IDAD 4 may be assigned a unique identifier, such as a local or globaladdress according to the Internet Protocol (IP). Local monitor 36 oraccess point 24 may employ a network address translation (NAT) module tofacilitate communications between IDAD 4 and patient management system12. These devices may further include firewall and other securitymodules to prevent unauthorized access of IDAD 4.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment ofimplanted data aggregation device (IDAD) 4. IDAD 4 includes hermeticallysealed enclosure 41 that contains a processor 40, wireless transceiver44, and memories 42, 46.

Processor 40 controls the operation of IDAD 4 by executing softwareinstructions 43 stored within memory 42. Processor 40 may take one of avariety of forms including an embedded microprocessor, an embeddedcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), and the like. Memory 42may comprise any computer-readable medium suitable for storinginstructions. Although illustrated as a read-only memory (ROM), memory42 may take the form of random access memory (RAM), non-volatile randomaccess memory (NVRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EEPROM), flash memory, a miniaturized hard drive having amagnetic medium, and the like.

Wireless transceiver 44 receives and transmits radio frequency signalsvia antenna 45. In particular, processor 40 may make use of wirelesstransceiver 44 for communicating with IMDs 6, EMDs 8, local monitor 36or access point (AP) 24 according to wireless communication protocols,as described above. IDAD 4 receives physiological data 47 from IMDs 6and EMDs 8 via wireless transceiver 44, and stores the physiologicaldata 47 within memory 46 for subsequent transmission to patientmanagement system 12. Memory 46 may take the form of any static memorysuitable for storing physiological data 47, such as non-volatile randomaccess memory (NVRAM), flash memory, a miniaturized hard drive having amagnetic medium, and the like. The physiologic data 47 may be stored orcleared after download to patient management system 12.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary softwarearchitecture for controlling operation of IDAD 4. In general, thesoftware architecture depicts a number of software modules for executionby processor 40. The software modules may include one or more high-levelsoftware applications 52 that carryout functions described herein. Forexample, software applications 52 may communicate with IMDs 6 and EMDs 8to collect and aggregate physiological data 47 for patient 5. If IDAD 4operates as an implantable medical device, software applications 52 maycontrol other functions such as delivery of pacing pulses, drugdelivery, patient monitoring, and the like. Software applications 52make use of one or more drivers 54 that may be included within IDAD 4 toprovide interfaces to a wide variety of hardware components. Drivers 54may make use of corresponding chipsets and other hardware componentsincorporated within IDAD 4.

For example, IDAD 4 may include device I/O driver 56 may provide aninterface to processor-controlled hardware, such as pacing circuitry, adrug delivery pump, and the like. Driver 55 provides an interface forcommunicating via protocols, such as conventional RF telemetryprotocols. Driver 58 supports an 802.11 wireless communication protocol,such as 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g. Similarly, driver 60 supports RFcommunications according to the Bluetooth protocol. IDAD 4 may alsoinclude driver 62, 64 for supporting cellular communications accordingto the code division multiple access (CDMA) protocol, or the GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM) protocol, respectfully. Softwareapplications 52 may invoke network protocols 66 to make use of thesedrivers for communication with IMDs 6, EMDs 8, local monitor 36, andaccess point 24. Network protocols 66 may implement at TCP/IP networkstack, for example, to support the Internet Protocol or othercommunication protocols. Other protocols may readily be incorporatedwithin IDAD 4.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating example operation of IDAD 4 whencollecting and aggregating physiological data 47 for patient 5.Initially, IDAD 4 may be placed in a data acquisition mode with anexternal activation signal, e.g., by patient 5 or a clinician passing amagnet proximate the skin of the patient for activating the device (70).Another potential method for entering acquisition mode is throughtapping of a pattern on the implanted device. Patient 5 or a clinicianmay, for example, place IDAD 4 into acquisition mode upon completing atest or other procedure with one of EMDs 6 during a visit to a hospitalor clinic. As another example, patient 5 may place IDAD 4 in acquisitionmode each morning to collect data from EMDs present within his or herhome that may have been monitoring the patient while he or she slept. Inthis manner, patient 5 or a clinician may selectively activate IDAD 4 asneeded to acquire data from internal and external medical devices 8,6.

Once activated, IDAD 4 begins sensing for EMDs 6, IMDs 8 using a varietyof communication protocols, as described above (72). IDAD 4 may continueto sense for EMDs 6 and IMDs 8 for a period of time (74). If no devicesare found, IDAD 4 terminates the acquisition mode, thereby conservingpower.

If a medical device is detected, e.g., one of EMDs 6 or IMDs 8, IDAD 4initiates a communication session with the detected device (76), andacquires physiological data 47 from the detected device (78). IDAD 4receives the physiological data 47, and stores the data for subsequenttransmission to patient management system 12 (79).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart further illustrating the operation of IDAD 4 whentransmitting the aggregated physiological data 47 to patient managementsystem 12. As described above in reference to FIG. 6, IDAD 4 may beactivated by patient 5 or a clinician, e.g., by the patient or theclinician passing a magnet proximate the skin of the patient foractivating the device (80). Upon activation, IDAD 4 not only senses forother medical devices, but senses for upload devices, e.g., access point24, local monitor 36, or cell phone 30, for uploading any aggregatedphysiological data 47 stored within the device. In the case of embeddedcell phone technology, IDAD 4 may directly initiate a cellular call foruploading the data.

Once activated, IDAD 4 begins sensing for upload devices for uploadingthe aggregated physiological data 47 using a variety of communicationprotocols, as described above (82). IDAD 4 may continue to sense forupload devices for a period of time (84). If no upload devices arefound, IDAD 4 terminates the acquisition mode to conserve power.

If an upload device is detected, e.g., one of access point 24, localmonitor 36, or cell phone 30 or other device, IDAD 4 initiates acommunication session with the detected upload device (86), andretrieves the physiological data from memory 46 (88). IDAD 4communicates the aggregated physiological data 47 to the detected devicefor patient management system 12 (90).

Various embodiments of the invention have been described. These andother embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

1. A method comprising: acquiring physiological data from a plurality ofmedical devices external to a body of a patient; allocating a firstmemory location within an implanted medical device, wherein operation ofthe implanted medical device is unaffected by data residing within thefirst memory location; aggregating the physiological data within thefirst allocated memory location; and communicating the aggregatedphysiological data from the implanted device to a remote system.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising presenting the aggregatedphysiological data from the remote system to a clinician.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein acquiring the physiological data by the implantedmedical device comprises: entering a data acquisition mode in responseto an activation signal; detecting the external medical devices uponentering the data acquisition mode; and acquiring the physiological datafrom the detected external medical devices.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein detecting the external medical devices comprises attempting toinitiate wireless communication sessions with at least some of theexternal medical devices upon entering the data acquisition mode.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, acquiring physiological data comprises receiving thephysiological data from the external medical devices in accordance withone or more wireless communication protocols.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the wireless communication protocols comprises at least one ofBluetooth, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and the HomeRFstandard.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the aggregatedphysiological data to the remote system comprises establishing acellular communication with the remote system.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein communicating the aggregated physiological data to the remotesystem comprises establishing a network communication session betweenthe implantable medical device and a wireless access point.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving additionalphysiological data from a medical device implanted within the body ofthe patient; and aggregating the additional physiological data receivedfrom the implanted medical device with the physiological data receivedfrom the external medical devices for communication to the remotesystem.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the aggregatedphysiological data from the implanted device to a remote systemcomprises: detecting an activation signal; detecting an communicationinterface of the remote system in response to the activation signal; andretrieving the aggregated physiological data from a computer-readablemedium within the implanted device; and communicating the aggregatedphysiological data to the upload device for communication to the remotesystem.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the communicationinterface comprises attempting to initiate a communication session withthe communication interface in accordance with a wireless communicationdevice in response to the activation signal.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the wireless communication protocols comprises at least one ofBlueTooth, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and the HomeRFstandard.
 13. A method comprising: providing a memory location within animplantable medical device for the collection, retention andtransmission of physiological data from external medical devices whereinoperation of the implantable medical device is unaffected by thephysiolocical data; receiving physiological data from a medical deviceexternal to a body of a patient; storing the physiological data withinthe memory location; and communicating the physiological data from thememory location to an external device.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein the external device is one of a remote system and a database.15. The method of claim 14, further comprising presenting the aggregatedphysiological data from the remote system to a clinician.
 16. The methodof claim 14, wherein communicating the aggregated physiological data tothe remote system comprises communicating the aggregated physiologicaldata to the remote system via one or more wireless communicationprotocols.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein communicating theaggregated physiological data to the remote system comprisesestablishing a cellular communication with the remote system.
 18. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising: receiving commands from theremote system based on the aggregated physiological data; and deliveringmedical treatment to the patient via the implanted device in response tothe commands.
 19. The method of claim 14, further comprising: receivingcommands from the remote system based on the aggregated physiologicaldata; and forwarding the commands to the external medical device. 20.The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the physiological datacomprises Initiating wireless communication sessions with the externalmedical device.
 21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:receiving additional physiological data from a medical device implantedwithin the body of the patient; and storing the additional physiologicaldata within the implanted device.
 22. An implantable medical devicecomprising: a first memory location for providing data and instructionsfor operation of the implantable medical device; a second memorylocation allocated for collection of physiological data from externalmedical devices wherein operation of the implantable medical device isunaffected by the data stored within the second memory location that isprovided by a storage medium; and a wireless transceiver to acquire thephysiological data from the external medical device and transmit thephysiological data.
 23. The implantable device of claim 22, furthercomprising a processor to retrieve the physiological data andcommunicate the physiological data to a remote system.
 24. Theimplantable device of claim 23, wherein the processor enters a dataacquisition mode in response to an activation signal, and acquires thephysiological data from the external medical device upon entering thedata acquisition mode.
 25. The implantable device of claim 23, whereinthe processor initiates a wireless communication session with theexternal medical devices in accordance with a wireless communicationprotocol upon entering the data acquisition mode.
 26. The implantabledevice of claim 23, wherein the wireless communication protocolcomprises at least one of BlueTooth, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE802.11g, and the HomeRF standard.
 27. The implantable device of claim23, wherein the processor establishes a cellular communication with theremote system.
 28. The implantable device of claim 23, wherein theprocessor establishes a network communication session between theimplantable medical device and a wireless access point.
 29. Theimplantable device of claim 23, wherein the processor establishes anetwork communication session between the implantable medical device anda local monitor.
 30. The implantable device of claim 23, wherein theprocessor receives additional physiological data from a second medicaldevice implanted within the body of the patient, and stores theadditional physiological data within the computer-readable medium forcommunication to the remote system.
 31. The implantable device of claim23, wherein the processor receives commands from the remote system basedon the physiological data, and delivers medical treatment to the patientin response to the commands.
 32. The implantable device of claim 23,wherein the processor receives commands from the remote system based onthe aggregated physiological data, and forwards the commands to theexternal medical device.
 33. The implantable device of claim 22, whereinthe storage medium comprises one of a random access memory (RAM), anon-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), an electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM), a flash memory, and aminiaturized hard drive having a magnetic medium.
 34. The implantabledevice of claim 22, further comprising a hermetically sealed housingcontaining the wireless transceiver and the storage medium forimplantation within the body of the patient.